Raipur
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for ten transformative projects worth approximately Rs 34,400 crore in Chhattisgarh, marking a significant stride towards sustainable development and energy efficiency.
Among the key highlights was the official opening of the Lara Super Thermal Power Project Stage-I by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), with the foundation stone laid for Stage-II in Raigarh district. Stage-I, costing Rs 15,800 crore, utilizes advanced supercritical technology, while Stage-II, valued at Rs 15,530 crore, adopts ultra-supercritical technology. These advancements will not only optimize coal consumption but also reduce carbon emissions, benefitting Chhattisgarh and neighboring states like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
In a strategic push towards renewable energy, the Prime Minister inaugurated a solar PV project in Rajnandgaon and a 50MW solar power plant in Bhilai, collectively costing Rs 900 crore. These initiatives underscored the government’s commitment to promoting solar energy utilization, with the potential to supply electricity even during nighttime, thereby enhancing energy security and affordability.
Furthermore, the event witnessed the inauguration of three ‘First Mile Connectivity (FMC)’ projects by South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), aimed at enhancing coal evacuation efficiency from locations like Dipka and Raigarh, with a combined investment exceeding Rs 600 crore. Additionally, railway and road projects were inaugurated to bolster connectivity and infrastructure in the region.
Modi also inaugurated the Bilaspur-Usalapur Railway Over Rail Flyover, a crucial addition to Chhattisgarh’s railway infrastructure, costing Rs 303 crore. Additionally, he dedicated a railway solar power plant in Bhilai, with a capacity of 50 megawatts, constructed at a cost of Rs 280 crore. This plant is expected to annually produce 106 million units of solar energy, significantly reducing carbon emissions and contributing to the mitigation of climate change impacts.
Speaking via video conferencing, the Prime Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to transform food providers into energy providers by facilitating the setup of small solar plants on agricultural land. He outlined the government’s ambitious plan to meet the country’s electricity needs through solar energy, emphasizing the PM Surya Ghar Yojana aimed at equipping households with solar power generation capabilities. This initiative not only promises to fulfill electricity requirements but also offers a lucrative avenue for households to generate additional income by selling surplus electricity, thereby fostering economic empowerment at the grassroots level.
